Envelope



April- 26, 1921.

is. c. WALTER$ ENVELOPE- Filed Feb. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet mill 5555 April 26,1927. 1,626,578

J. C. WALTERS ENVELOPE} a lagbFeb. 16. 1926 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 IN-VENTOR/ JOJPH CW4! 7-555 ATTORNEY.

envelope of the Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED J'OBEPE'C. WALTERS, OI WATEBBUBY, CONNECTICUT.

mesa

ENVELOPE.

"a lication filed February 16, 1826. Serial m. 88,666.

. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in paper envelopes employed for enclosing letters and the like for mailing purposes. p

The primary object of the invention is to provide an envelope of the above kind which is so constructed that, when properly sealed, will enable positive detection of any unanthorized attempt to open the Same and galn access to the enclosure 01' contents.

A further objectis to provide a detection envelope of the above kind which is extremely simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and capable of being readily placed into practical use.

A still further object is to provide an above kind with means for facilitating opening of the same by an authorized person, and means to efiectively prevent damaging or tearing of the enclosed letter or the like when the envelope is so opened.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more full described, shown in the accompanying rawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is il ustrated, and

wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention, the envelope being illustrated as containing an enclosure and as being in sealed condition;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially upon line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fi re 3 shows an end portion of the device rllustratedin Figure 1, such end portion being divided from the remaining'portion along the section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and illustrated in perspective;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the envelope shown in Figure 1, prior to insertion of an enclosure therein and sealing of the closure flap;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially upon line 5-5 of Figure 3-;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the blank from which the envelope of Fi re 1 is constructed, the blank being i lust-rated in partly folded condition;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective, view of a portion of the blank shown in Figure 6 looking at the inner face or surface thereof;

Figure 8 is a perspective, view, partly broken away, of the envelope shown in Figure 1 after the same has been opened by an authorized person and the enclosure removed; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view o fthe portion of the envelope which is removed in opening the same asillustrated in Figure 8.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the form of the invention shown embodies a folded one-piece blank of paper or other suitable material, such blank comprising an elongated strip folded intermediate its ends upon a transverse line as indicated at 5 to provide a pair of super-imposed similar body portions 6 and 7 preferably of elongated rectangular form' as shown. The body portions 6 and 7 are thus integrally joined at one end of the envelope, and either body portion may receive the address of the party to which the enclosure is directed. As shown, the body portion 6 has the address placed thereon, as well as the stamp and constitutes the front wall member of the envelope.

The body member 7 has narrow sealing flaps 8 integral with the longitudinal edges thereof, and these sealing flaps 8 are folded inwardly ontothe inner surface of the body member 7'and-have their exposed or outer surfaces coated with an adhesive as indicated clearl in Figure 6. The body portion 6 is folded onto the body 'ortion 7 when the sealing flaps are in fol ed condition so that when the adhesive on the flaps 8 is moistened, the longitudinal edge portions of the body member 6 will adhere to the sealing flaps 8 for joining the body members 6 and 7 and thereby forming the body of the envelope. As the flaps 8 extend from end to end of the body 6 and 7 will e efiectively joined throughmember 7, the body members out their longitudinal edge portions. The

body portion or member 6 is provided intermediate its ends with lateral tongues 9 which of the mber 6 and have their inner surfaces coated with adhesive as clearly shown in Figure 7. Slits 11 are provided in the blank and particularly in theintermediate portions of the juncturee betweenthe body member 7 and the flaps .8, the" la pgoject from the longitudinal edges dy me tongues 9 are adapted to be fblded inwardly at its free end, and integrally joined upon a transverse fold line13 with the outer end of the extension 12 is a closure flap 14-. It is apparent that when this flap is open, the envelope is open at the adjacent end for permitting the free insertion of'a letter or other enclosure. The major portion of the inner surface of the closure flap 14 is coated with adhesive as clearly shown in Figure 6 so that when the closure flap is folded inwardly upon the fold line 13 against the outer surface of the adjacent end of the body member 6, such closure flap may be effectively sealed for closin the normally opened end of the envelope. egistered transverse lines of perforations or short slits are provided as at 15 in the sealing flap 14 and the extension 12 at equal distances to opposite sides of the fold line 13 whereby the extension 12 and flap 14 have adjacent connected strip ortions 16 which may be readily detached from the body of the envelope by tearing along the perforation lines 15. It is apparent that the perforation lines 15 will be registered when the. closure fla 14 is sealed, and that such registered per oration lines will be disposed outwardly of the adjacent ends of the body members 6 and 7 so that the removable member composed of the sections 16 may be detached without muti-- lating the letter or enclosure providing the latter is properly fitted in the envelope and is no larger than the body members 6 andv 7. In order to maintain the enclosure or letter in its proper position so that the adjacent end of the s'ame will be disposed inwardly of the lines of perforations 15 for more positively guarding against damaging or tearing of the same when the sections 16 are detached, the free end of the body member 6 is provided with a central tongue 17 that is f0 ded inwardly upon the transverse line of connection between the same and the body member 6 and then centrally return bent upon a transverse fold line as clearly shown in Figures 2 and l. The tongue 17 thus occupies a position. within the end of the envelope'so as to engage the adjacent end of the enclosure and prevent shifting of the latter in a direction for moving to a position between the removable sections 16. The enclosure or letter is generally indicated at 18,

. hesive.

ent envelope the body member 6 may slot or slit 19 adjacent to but inwardly of the tongue 17, and inte ral with the closure flap 14: so as to project rom thecentral portion of its free transverse edge is a tongue 20 whose inner surface is coated with ad- The tongue 20 is adapted to be inserted in the slit 19, and the latter is provided with outwardly directed ends to facilitate such insertion as'indicated at 21. In

inserting the tongue 20in the slot or slit 19,

said tongue is folded inwardl substantially onto the inner surface of the ap 14 whereby the tongue 20 will naturally tend to pass through the slit 19 and occupy an outwardly projecting position with its adhesive inner surface engaging the adjacent inner surface of the body memberv6 outwardly of the slit 19 as shown clearly in Figure 2. It is thus apparent that upon moistening the adhesive on the tongue 20, said tongue will be effectively sealed to the inner surface of the body member 6.

A most widely practiced method of tampering with envelopes or opening the same consists in softening the sealing adhesive by the action of steam thereon so that the envelope may be opened and the contents tampered with or inspected, and in such manner that the envelope may be again sealed with-' outdetection of such tampering. In order to practice this method it is necessary to substantially obtain access to the adhesive surfaces, and in so tampering with the prei; readily disconnected from the sealing flaps 8 and the closure flap 14 may be even more readily disconnected from the body member 6. I However, such disconnection will only be efiected with respect to the adhesive surfaces of the flaps 8 and 14:, and the sealing tongues 9 and 20 will remain effective so that access to the contents of the envelope cannot be had without destroying one or more of such tongues. It is thus apparent that the destruction of one of the tongues 9 or the tongue 20 will furnish a positive means of detecting unauthorized opening of or tampering with the envelope or its contents. Naturally, the envelope will be completely destroyed when the detachable sections 16 are removed along the perforation lines 15, and persons tampering with mail iOO 5 body members, having an extension at the open end of the .precinted b those skilled in the art. WhatIcaimasnewis:-

An envel "including a body portion open at 'one end'enfl composed of a pair of one of said body members body, a closure flap integrally joined upon a Y transverse fold line ,with the outer end of said extension and adapte'd to be folded onto 10 the adjacent end of the other body member,

an adhesive-for joining the closure flap to said other body 'member when folded, transverse perforation lines extending from side to side of the closure sion at op site sides of the fold line be; tween the c osnreflep and said extension for ea ers shifting to a positionflap. andsaid extenforming a sections oi the extension and the closure flap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. Y JosEPH c. WALTERS.

detachable section-home of fol ed similar members of the clo- .v and extension, and en inwards;

between the detechable membercomposed of the folded similar 

